Combination suction roll and silencing and cleaning means



Dec. 4, 1956 J. J. KELLY 2,772,606

COMBINATION SUCTION ROLL AND SILENCING AND CLEANING MEANS Filed July 29, 1955 PAPER I2 INVENTOR JOSEPH J. KELLY BY *4 W v% ATTORNEY? United States Patent COMBINATION SUCTION ROLL AND SILENCING AND CLEANING MEANS Joseph J. Kelly, Georgetown, S. C.

Application July 29, 1955, Serial No. 525,191

4 Claims. (CI. 92-53) This invention relates to paper making machinery and more particularly to a suction roll incorporating means for silencing the same and also for cleaning the preparations therein.

In the making of paper, it is customery to feed a web of Wet paper supported by a felt or other porous belt, between a suction roll and a pressure roll and in which the suction roll is provided with a plurality of perforations and means for inducing a vacuum in such perforations, in order to remove excessive moisture from the paper which flows through the felt or other porous belt and through the perforations into a vacuum chamber disposed within the perforated roll. Since a relatively high vacuum is applied to the perforations of the roll, it has been found that a serious noise problem is created and one which causes extreme discomfort to persons who must, of necessity, work in the vicinity of paper making machinery incorporating suction rolls of the type heretofore employed. Many attempts have been made to provide suitable silencing means for such suction rolls, but prior to this invention, these attempts to silence such rolls have met with little success.

Apparently, the objectionable and excessive noise is caused by air rushing in to fill the evacuated perforations in the suction roll, as such perforations move out of contact with the felt or other porous belt supporting the paper web and numerous structures have been proposed to retard the equalization of pressure in the perforations and the surrounding atmosphere with the object of reducing or eliminating such noise. These structures have been relatively complicated and costly and unfortunately have not resulted in materially reducing the noise present in such apparatus.

The suction rolls commonly employed in paper making machinery of the type under consideration, are normally of a diameter of 30 to 34 inches and in the neighborhood of 18 feet long, with such rolls being provided with 1400 to 1500 perforations or holes per square foot. Also, in order to maintain production at the desired rate, it is necessary that these rolls turn at a relatively high rate of speed of the order of a surface speed of 30 feet per second. The size of the rolls, together with the number of perforations and speed of rotation of the rolls adds materially to the difficulty of providing adequate silencing means and the instant invention, provides a silencing means which effectively reduces the noise and is applicable to rolls of different diameters and incorporating a varying number of perforations and the operation is completely independent of the speed of rotation of the rolls.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a suction roll for paper making machinery incorporating relatively simple means for silencing such roll and also, including means for cleaning the perforations in the roll.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined suction roll, silencing and cleaning means in which such silencing means is independent of the diameter 2,772,606 Patented Dec. 4, 1956 of the roll, the number of perforations therein and the speed of rotation of such roll.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combined suction roll and silencing and cleaning means which may be conveniently applied to conventional suction rolls and involves only, the addition of structural features to the vacuum chamber normally disposed within the suction roll.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a combinedsuction roll and silencing and cleaning means in which such cleaning means adequately removed foreign material from the perforations in the roll and also contributes to the silencing action of the silencing means.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a combined suction roll and silencing and cleaning means in which, if desired, the silencing means may be installed without the cleaning means and without materially affecting the efficiency of the silencing means.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a combined suction roll and silencing and cleaning means which may be conveniently and economically manufactured from readily available material and economically installed in existing paper making machinery without requiring extensive and costly modification thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawing wherein:

The single Figure is a transverse sectional view of a combined suction roll and silencing and cleaning means constructed in accordance with this invention and showing the relationship of such roll to the pressure roll, as well as the paper web and supporting felt or porous belt passing between the pressure roll and suction roll.

With continued reference to the drawing there is shown, a portion of a paper making machine incorporating a suction roll 10 rotatably mounted in the machine and a pressure or squeeze roll 11, also rotatably mounted in the machine and cooperating with the suction roll 10 to receive therebetween a web of paper 12 supported on a belt 13 formed of felt or other suitable or porous material. The pressure roll 10 rotates in the direction of the arrow 14 to feed the paper 12 and felt 13 between the suction roll 10 and the pressure roll 11 in the direction of the arrow 15. The paper web 12 is saturated with water and the purpose of the suction roll 10 and the squeeze or pressure roll 11, is to remove such water in a manner to be presently described.

The suction roll 10 is hollow and is provided with a relatively smooth inner surface 16 and the wall 17 of the suction roll 10 is provided with a plurality of perforations 18. Any desired number of such perforations may be provided, but in a conventional roll there may well be 1400 to 1500 of these perforations per square foot of the roll.

Disposed within the suction roll 10, is a vacuum chamber 19 provided by an elongated tubular member 20 and in the wall of the tubular member 20, there is provided an elongated slot 21. Mounted on the tubular member 20 adjacent the leading side of the slot 21 with respect to the rotation of the suction roll 10, is a bracket 22 provided with a channel 23, in which is slidably disposed a packing means 24, in the form of an elongated strip having an outer surface 25 engaging the inner surface 16 of the suction roll 10. Disposed within the channel 23 and between the bottom 26 of the channel and the lower surface 27 of the packing strip 24, is an expansible tubular member 28, which is adapted to be supplied with air pressure to yieldably hold the surface 25 of the packing strip 24 against the inner surface 16 of the suction roll 10.

Adjacent the trailing side of the slot 21, there is mounted on the tubular member 20, an elongated boss 29 which is provided with an elongated channel 30 for slid ably receiving a packing member 31 in the form of a strip having an outer surface 32 adapted to engage the inner surface 16 of the suction roll 10. Disposed in the channel 30 between the bottom 33 thereof, and the lower surface 34 of the packing strip 31, is an expansible tubular member 35 which is adapted to be supplied with air pressure to yieldably hold the surface 32 of the packing strip 31 in engagement with the inner surface 16 of the suction roll 10.

The above described structure serves to provide packing means between the tubular member 20 forming the suc tion or vacuum chamber 19 and the inner surface of the suction roll 16 and, as a consequence thereof, the vacuum chamber 19 communicates through the slot 21 with the perforations 18 in the suction roll it, as such perforations pass between the packing strip 24 and the packing strip 31 during rotation of the suction roll lid. This serves to evacuate the perforations 18 in communication with the vacuum chamber 19 through the slot 21 and, as a result thereof, water or moisture contained in the paper web 12 is drawn through the felt 13 or other porous belt, and through the perforations 18 into the vacuum chamber 19 to thereby remove excess moisture from the paper web 1.2. This moisture removal is materially assisted by the action of the pressure or squeeze roll 11 cooperating with the suction roll it) during rotation thereof and passage of the paper web 12 and'belt 13 therebetween.

Since, a relatively high vacuum is present in the perforations 18, as they move out of communication with the slot 21 in the tubular member 29, very serious noise problem is created by the air surrounding the apparatus rushing into the perforations iii to equalize the pressure therein With the surrounding atmosphere. Since such air enters the perforations 18 from the outside of the suction roll 10, as well as from the space between the tubular member 20 and the inner surface 16 of the suction roll 10, it will be seen, that such flow of air from opposite directions into the perforations 18, results in the noise mentioned above. In order to substantially reduce or eliminate such noise, there has been provided by this invention, means to simultaneously close the inner ends of a plurality of the perforations 18 on the trailing side of the packing strip 31, thereby preventing entry of air into such perforations from the space between the tubular member 20 and the inner surface 16 of the suction roll it and, as a consequence thereof, the pressure in such perforations 18 is equalized by the entry of air solely from the exterior of the suction roll lil. It has been found that this results in a material reduction and, in many cases, in substantial elimination of the noise resulting from operation of the apparatus. In order to reduce such noise, there is provided in the boss 29, a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves 36, 37 and 38 and slidably disposed in such grooves are sealing plates 39, 4t? and it. These plates are provided, at their outer ends, with enlarged heads 47., 43 and 44, the outer surfaces of which are formed to engage the inner surface 16 of the suction roll and provide a substantially continuous elongated closure for the inner ends of a plurality of the perforations 33. Disposed in each groove 3%, 37 and 333, between the inner ends of the plates 39, 4t) and 41, and the bottoms of grooves 36, 3?, and 38, is an expandable tube 45 which is supplied with air pressure, in order to yieldably hold the outer surfaces of the heads 42, 43 and 44 in engagement with the inner surface 16 of the suction roll 10.

The above described structure serves to effectively and simultaneously close the inner ends of a plurality of the perforations 18, moving out of communication with the vacuum chamber 19 through the slot 21 and thereby prevent entry of'air into such perforations, which, as mentioned above, are highly evacuated from the space between the tubular member and the suction roll it), as a result of which, air enters these perforations solely, from the exterior of the suction roll -10, thereby materially reducing or eliminating the noise caused by air entering such perforations to equalize the pressure therein with the atmosphere surrounding the suction roll 10.

Since the perforations 18 in the suction roll 10, frequently become clogged with lint from the felt 13 or other foreign material and since, the suction roll 10 must be removed from the apparatus for a thorough cleaning of such perforations, it is highly desirable to provide cleaning means which will eliminate the necessity for shutting down the machine and removing the roll ll), which will result in a material increase in production. For this pur pose, the boss 29 is provided with an elongated channel 46 in which is disposed an elongated conduit 47 having a plurality of apertures therein, not shown, which serves to provide an elongated spray head for directing cleaning fluid, such as water, air or steam, in the form of a spray 48, into and through the perforations 18 in the suction roll 10. This results in removing any foreign material in such perforations and maintains the same clear for the passage of water therethrough from the paper web 12.

At the trailing side of the channel 46, there is provided in the boss 29, a groove 49 which serves to slidably receive a sealing strip 50, the outer surface 51 of which engages the inner surface 16 of the suction roll ill, to seal the chamber 46 and prevent escape of cleaning fluid therefrom. Disposed in the groove 49 between the bottom 52 thereof and the lower surface 53 of the sealing strip 50, is an expandable tube 54 which is supplied with air pres sure, in order to yieldably hold the surface 51 of the sealing strip 50 in engagement with the inner surface 16 of the suction roll 10.

Since the cleaning fluid from the spray 58 passes through the perforations it; in the suction roll if), in the vicinity of the felt 13 and since, it is desired to prevent contact of such fluid with the relatively dry felt, there is provided an elongated drip pan suitably supported on the apparatus and surrounding the roll 10 below the felt 13, and between the felt I3 and the surface of the suction roll 10 opposite the spray 43, there is provided a shield in the form of an overhanging lip 56 on the drip pan 55 which serves to deflect any fluid away from the felt 13 and into the drip pan 55 where the same may be conveniently drained.

It will be seen that by the above described invention, there has been provided a relatively simple, yet highly effective mechanism for silencing the suction roll of paper making machinery and there has also been provided means for effectively cleaning the perforations in such suction roll to preclude the necessity for shutting down the machine and removing the roll While cleaning such perforations. It is also to be noted, that the cleaning fluid entering the perforations 13, tends to damp any sound waves set up therein by the entry of air and consequently, the cleaning'rnechanism also contributes to the silencing effect of the apparatus of this invention.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawing anddescribed in the specification, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an elongated rotatably mounted hollow suction roll, a plurality of perforations in the wall of said roll, a vacuum chamber comprising an elongated tubular member disposed within said roll and spaced from the inner surface thereof, a longitudinally extending slot in said member, packing means slidably mounted on said member on opposite sides of said slot, fluid pressure means for holding said packing means in yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll, an elongated boss on said member at the side of said packing means on the trailing side of said slot with respect to the rotation of said roll, a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves-in said boss, a sealingplate slidably mounted in each groove and having an enlarged head, fluid pressure means in each groove for urging said plates outwardly and said heads into yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll whereby the inenr ends of said perforations moving out of communication with said chamber will be closed to permit entry of air to such perforations only from the exterior of said roll thereby reducing noise resulting from air rushing in to fill the evacuated perforations, a channel in said boss, an elongated spray head in said channel for directing cleaning fluid into said perforations, a sealing strip slidably mounted on said boss at the trailing side of said channel and air pressure means for urging said sealing strip into yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll.

2. In combination an elongated rotatably mounted hollow suction roll, a plurality of perforations in the wall of said roll, a vacuum chamber comprising an elongated tubular member disposed within said roll and spaced from the inner surface thereof, a longitudinally extending slot in said member, packing means slidably mounted on said member on opposite sides of said slot, means for holding said packing means in yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll, an elongated boss on said member at the side of said packing means on the trailing side of said slot with respect to the rotation of said roll, a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves in said boss, a sealing plate slidably mounted in each groove and having an enlarged head, means in each groove for urging said plates outwardly and said heads into yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll whereby the inner ends of said perforations moving out of communication with said chamber will be closed to permit entry of air to such perforations only from the exterior of said roll thereby reducing noise resulting from air rushing to fill the evacuated perforations, a channel in said boss, an elongated spray head in said channel for directing cleaning fluid, air or steam into said perforations, a sealing strip slidably mounted on said boss at the trailing side of said channel and means for urging said sealing strip into yieldable engagement With the inner surface of said roll.

3. In combination an elongated rotatably mounted hollow suction roll, a plurality of perforations in the Wall of said roll, a vacuum chamber comprising an elongated tubular member disposed within said roll and spaced from the inner surface thereof, a longitudinally extending slot in said member, packing means slidably mounted on said member on opposite sides of said slot, means for holding said packing means in yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll, an elongated boss on said member at theside of said packing means at the trailing side of said slot with respect to the rotation of said roll, a plurality of circumferentialy spaced grooves in said boss, a sealing plate slidably mounted in each groove and having an enlarged head, means in each groove for urging said plates outwardly and said heads into yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll whereby the inner ends of said perforations moving out of communication with said chamber will be closed to permit entry of air to such perforations only from the exterior of said roll thereby reducing noise resulting from air rushing in to fill the evacuated perforations, a channel in said boss, means disposed solely in said channel for directing cleaning fluid, air or steam into said perforations from their inner ends only, a sealing strip slidably mounted on said boss at the trailing side of said channel I and means for urging said sealing strip into yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll.

4. In combination an elongated rotatably mounted hollow suction roll, a plurality of perforations in the wall of said roll, a vacuum chamber comprising an elongated tubular member disposed within said roll and spaced from the inner surface thereof, a longitudinally extending slot in said member, packing means slidably mounted on said member on opposite sides of said slot, means for holding said packing means in yieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll, an elongated boss on said member at the side of said packing means on the trailing side of-said slot with respect to the rotation of said roll, a plurality of circumferentially spaced grooves in said boss, a sealing plate slidably mounted in each groove and having an enlarged head, means in each groove for urging said plates outwardly and said heads into ieldable engagement with the inner surface of said roll whereby the inner ends of said perforations moving out of communication with said chamber will be closed to permit entry of air to such perforations only from the exterior of said roll thereby reducing noise resulting from air rushing in to fill the evacuated perforations and means disposed solely Within said roll for directing cleaning fluid, air or steam into said perforations from their inner ends only.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

